April 25, 2027
Narrative Lectionary – NL 143
Romans 1:1-17 — Called to be saints, gifted with grace and apostleship. I am not ashamed of the gospel.
Matt 9:10-13 — I have not come to call the righteous but sinners.
Thoughts
Called to be saints. Saints are not exceptionally good people (some struggle to be good), but people though whom we see God’s goodness. We are called to be transparent to how God works in our lives. It is not for our own sake, but for the sake of the world. Being gifted with “apostleship” doesn’t necessarily mean we’re door-to-door evangelists, but that God’s grace in us is for the sake of the community. We learn to “not be ashamed of the gospel, “ to be willing for others to see God at work in our lives—perhaps in our spoken testimony, but surely in how we are continually transformed and used for the sake of the healing of the world.
The righteous live by faith. ‘Faith” does not mean believing certain stuff, but trusting God. The “saving power” of the good news is not that if we hold a certain set of beliefs we’re rewarded, but that God loves us no matter what. That’s powerful. The righteous live by trusting that.
Call to Worship
Leader: God of love, Jesus said,
“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
All: You gather us here not because of our deserving,
but because we need you.
We are hungry for your grace.
We depend on your Spirit.
Yet you also need us.
You call us to share your good news
with those who are hungry for grace.
Speak to us, and we will listen.
Shape us by your Word, and we will do your will.
Fill us with your Spirit, and we will live new lives. Amen.
Prayer
God of grace, you gather us here to tell us once again how you love us, and to reshape our hearts to trust you. You call us as your saints, to live for your purposes. You call us to trust the powerful good news of your absolute love. And you call us to share that news, that love, with everyone, with all, not just with some. Bless us, that we may become transparent to your grace working in our lives, and so be your saints, in the spirit of Christ. Amen.
Response
Leader: God of love, you have called us to be your saints.
All: We are not perfect, but we are yours.
Make of us your stained glass window. We are broken, but beautiful.
You hold our fragments together by your love.
We are stained in may ways.
We are held together by your mercy.
None of us is enough, but together
we make a beautiful picture of your grace.
We are your stained glass window.
May your light shine through us.
Suggested Songs
(Click on titles to view, and hear an audio clip, on the Music page.)
All of the Gifts I Have (Tune: Fairest Lord Jesus)
All of the gifts I have, all that is within me,
you give to me, O God, with care;
all of my prayers and skills, passions and energies
you grant to me to freely share.
Here are my hopes and dreams, attitudes and deepest loves,
all of the treasure to which I cling.
I will not hold them in, stilling my ardent song,
but serving you I’ll freely sing.
In all I keep or give, may I do my very best
in everything I say and do,
in harmony with you, only to love and bless,
with joy, to serve and honor you.
Bearers of Light (Tune: Morning Has Broken)
God, how you love us, hold us and bless us,
reign from above us, lead us by hand
Call us to healing, bound by your Promise,
your Word revealing, by your command.
Great holy giver of life and wonder,
deep like a river your blessings flow.
Gladly we give you praise and thanksgiving:
gifts we will give wherever we go.
Baptized, anointed, filled with your Spirit,
we are appointed bearers of light:
for liberation, servants of justice,
bringing the nations joy and delight.
Send Us In Love (Tune: Morning Has Broken)
God in your mercy you are forgiving.
Now in our living we give you praise,
bearing your grace that blesses and frees us,
following Jesus all of our days.
Christ, your good news we share in thanksgiving,
gratefully living as you have done.
Make us your Body, faithfully sharing,
loving and caring, serving as one.
Send us in love now, Great Holy Spirit.
All we inherit is ours to give.
Set us to healing, humbly expressing
your gracious blessing that makes us live.
Send Us, Jesus (Tune : All Through the Night)
Send us, Jesus, in your spirit, held in your love,
to this torn and troubled world, still held in your love.
When despair and pain have found us,
still your mercy wraps around us,
giving hope that may astound us,
held in your love.
Send us, Jesus, bearing witness, held in your love,
present with the poor and broken, held in your love.
Evil looms, so cruel, deceiving,
leaving victims shorn and grieving;
still we will not cease believing,
held in your love.
Send us with the power of healing, held in your love.
Give us courage, strength and wisdom, held in your love.
To the selfish powers, oppressing,
may we stand, your love expressing,
facing fear with grace and blessing,
held in your love.
Send us for the sake of living, held in your love.
Give us grace to be forgiving, held in your love.
Facing evil’s vile rejection,
fearless love is resurrection.
May we be your best reflection,
held in your love.
Your Hands and Your Face (Tune: Be Thou My Vision)
God of all holiness, baptized in you,
we are your Body: your presence shines through.
We, poor in spirit, are blessed with your own.
May our lives shine forth with your grace alone.
We who with Jesus do mourn with the world
shall see your banners of deep joy unfurled.
We who are hungry for love freely shared
feast at the banquet that you have prepared.
May we be merciful and pure in heart,
your gentle peacemakers, doing our part.
Dying and rising, we do not fear loss,
sealed with your Spirit and marked with your cross.
Blest and beloved and baptized to serve,
we are your Body and you are our nerve.
Not by our effort, but by your pure grace,
may we be your hands and your human face.